Blog Posts by SheKnows.com

Let's face it-keeping up with a household full of dirty laundry is no simple task. Moms are expected to battle the toughest stains, organize clothing, and prevent socks from disappearing. What's a busy mom to do? We asked real moms to share their tricks of the trade. Find out what works and what doesn't with these 7 simple laundry tips.

It's easy to throw a load in the washing machine, but it's much more time consuming to fold, hang, and put away your clean garments. This results in piles of clean clothes sitting in baskets and getting wrinkled, or mixed with dirty clothes. Renee Kutner, mom of three small children, offers this scheduling suggestion, "Throw in a load every day that you have time, but don't bother if you're too busy to see it through-it will end up costing you more time than it saves."

>> Top 10 laundry blunders

Looking for a fast remedy for treating greasy stains? Lynnette Harris, a mother of three, offers

Taylor Swift reveals the inspiration behind her brutal song Dear John: John Mayer.

Taylor Swift
Finally a confirmation on what we all thought but was denied by the pair: Taylor Swift dated John Mayer, and he was a tool.

Taylor's new album is full of juicy confessions -- including how badly she feels about treating Taylor Lautner like crap -- but the best one by far is the little ditty she penned for John Mayer.

Some choice lyrics from Dear John:

"Dear John/I see it all now that you're gone/Don't you think I was too young/To be messed with/The girl in the dress/Cried the whole way home/I should've known."

And:

"It was wrong/Don't you think nineteen's too young/To be played/By your dark, twisted games/When I loved you so."

And also:

"You'll add my name to your long list of traitors who don't understand/And I'll look back in regret I ignored what they said/'Run as fast as you can.'"

Love it!

While theoretically this song could be about any ex, Swift has

by Sarah W. Caron for SheKnows.com

Toys, toys, everywhere: Sometimes, that's how a playroom feels. But don't let yours be that way! With a few easy tips, you can have an organized playroom perfect for fun and entertaining.

Follow the 80/20 rule.

The more your kids have (and have at the ready), the less they play with, it seems. So, set the stage so that they will actually play with more. "I've learned that there's an 80/20 rule for kids' toys: If they aren't organized well, kids end up spending 80 percent of their time playing with 20 percent of their toys while the other 80 percent go unused. To help combat this, I organize our playroom with a focus on access. My goal is to keep an environment that my kids (two boys, ages 5 and 8) can enjoy and keep neat," says Kat Eden of Education.com.

>> 52 Ideas to organize your home: An organizing tip a week

When it comes to toy room organization, simplicity rules. It's calming and easy to maintain. "If the toy

by Ashtyn Evans for SheKnows.com

Go wild this Halloween and pick a sexy costume that will drive your lover wild and ensure that you have a great night.

Halloween is coming! If you are going out to a party you want to make sure that you have the proper dress. No one wants to show up at a party and be one of many Madonnas. You need to pick out something unique, fun, and most important something sexy. After all, in choosing the right costume you could easily carry the look into the bedroom at the end of the night.

The question now becomes, "What kind of outfit is perfect for me?"

Well I can't answer that completely, but I can give you a few tips to help you choose something that will work just fine. First thing you need to do is determine the kind of party you are going to (or having.) If the party is adult in nature and adult costumes are allowed you may want to be racier than if it's a party that is more family oriented. However, in any case you can be

by Amanda Formaro for SheKnows.com

You can make some adorable Halloween costumes using little more than a cardboard box, some paint and lots of imagination. Here are several ideas to choose from.

ROBOT

1 large box
1 small box
Silver duct tape
Gray hooded sweatsuit
Silver spray paint
Gray, white or black gloves
Silver face paint
Markers
4 plastic milk jug lids

Seal one end of box with silver duct tape. Leave other end open. Do this with both boxes. Spray paint silver, let dry.

When dry, cut circle out of small box so when placed on child's head, the hole will be there for his/her face. Cut open ends off or fold inside box.

Follow above instructions for large box, then cut holes for arms. Glue lids on box in front, along bottom as control knobs. use markers to draw horizontal lines across the front of the box for effect. Paint face silver.

Large box
Red spray paint
Yarn
Black spray paint
5 paper

October is one of the best months for beer because many breweries release Oktoberfest styles. Oktoberfest beers are typically dark in color and mildly hoppy. These beers are only available a short while, so get them while they last! Here are 5 Oktoberfest beers you have to try. Prost!

1. SPATEN OKTOBERFEST BEER

First brewed in 1872, Spaten Oktoberfestis the ultimate Oktoberfest beer because it is the original. This German brewed beer is simple and classic and is pretty much the perfect beer to enjoy on a crisp October day. Typically available August through October, Spaten is a golden amber color with a medium body and a good balance of hops. A slightly rich beer with a hint of sweetness, it's served best with German-inspired cuisine like bratwurst, sausage, or anything grilled.

Taking a note from traditional Oktoberfest beers, the brewers at Brooklyn Brewery, have created a classic style beer with their own original flavors. With a fuller

by Abbi Perets for SheKnows.com

Connecting with other parents is a great way to feel less alone and more connected . And if you're the parent of a child with special needs, the internet can be an amazing tool for finding other parents sharing your special journey. Here's a roundup of some of the best blogs for special needs parents.

Recently, I spoke to the mother of an adult child with Down syndrome. Even though this woman is old enough to be my own mother, we bonded over our shared experience of raising a child with special needs. I mentioned that I blog about my son, and she said, "I wish that had been around when my daughter was young. It would have helped me a lot."

Blogging is probably the best thing I do for myself. Through my blog, I've made connections with other parents, found answers to tough questions, and gained the support I can't always find in real life.

The second best thing I do for myself is reading blogs written by other parents of kids with

Scarves not only keep you warm, but also look chic. Most people just wrap scarves around their necks and head out the door, but they're missing out: You can wear a scarf in so many different ways! Let's take a look at five fresh ways to wear a scarf -- the fashion must-have for this fall.

Fold a long scarf in half lengthwise. Wrap it around your neck and slip the loose tails through the looped end. You can wear the loop high or low, depending on your own personal preference and how cold the weather is. The slip knot is easy to wear, and your scarf won't fall off.

Drape a cashmere or other knit scarf around your neck backwards. In other words, the center of the scarf should be against your neck and the tails down your back. Take the tail that is over your left shoulder, bring it across your back and over your right shoulder. Repeat with the other side. You can leave the tails of the scarf hanging on each